The much maligned 2010 defense and the stellar 2009 defense, a comparisson.
by Bumpjon on Sep 23, 2010 5:11 PM CDT
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There's been quite a bit of discussion about this year's defense as compared to last year's defense. Most recently in the comments of the Affecting the Quarterback article. However if you look at the stats, this defense matches up pretty well with last year's. In fact, other than rushing yards, fumbles (both forced fumbles and fumbles recovered), and sacks, this defense is as good or better than last year's. And before you say "yeah but we had SJSU, PSU, and Duke this year," remember that we had VT, FIU, and North Texas. I'd say that they're about comparable schedules thus far.
Through the first three games last year our defense was awesome against the run. We gave up 126 yards on the ground (including 1 yard against Florida International). However this year we're giving up nearly 131 yards a game on the ground. Last year our opponents only average 1.5 yards per carry compared to 3.8 yards per carry this year. Fortunately we've bee more successful at keeping out opponents out of the end zone this year; we allowed 2 rushing touchdowns last year our opponents scored twice on the ground while we haven't allowed a rushing TD yet.
While our defense this year is not stopping the run, it is as good (if not better) against the pass as last year's defense. Through three games last year we gave up 430 yards through the air or 143.33 yards per game. This year we are slightly better allowing only 398 yards or 132.67 yards per game. Per catch we are giving up less yards as well; 9.7 ypc this year compared to 10 ypc last year. We're holding opposing quarterbacks to a much lower completion percentage this year as well; 44.6% compared to 53.1%. Last year we gave up 2 TDs compared to only 1 TD this year. The only area in which last years passing defense was better than this year's is sacks; we had 5 last year compared to only 2 this year. However, we are much better at intercepting the ball; 5 this year compared to only 1 last year. I would saw that even though we're not getting the sacks, we're still affecting the quarterback.
Speaking of turnovers, we have forced 4 fumbles but only recovered 1 this year compared to 2 fumbles forced and 2 recovered last year. That's 3 total turnovers last year compare to 6 this year. So, we're averaging 1 more turnover per game this year. Last year's defense gave up far fewer yards than this year's; 556 (185.33 yards per game) compared to 760 (253.33). But our defense has been much stingier in the points department by making our opponents settle for field goals. Last year we allowed 4 TDs and 1 FG (31 points) compared to 1 TD and 4 FGs (19 points) this year or 10.33 points per game compared to 6.33 points per game. All in all, I'd love for our defense to be a little more stout against the run but (as Pete said) the game is scored points not yards. Also, I'd love to sack the QB more but I'd trade 1 sack per game for 1 turnover per game any day of the week.
I guess what I mean to say is, that I am not as worried about this year's defense as some others seem to be. Especially when we consider that #57 had to sit for 2 games, we haven't really seen many blitzes yet (pretty vanilla thus far), and Jerrell Harris saying that they've been holding back.
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I'm sure your stats
are correct. I would say what bothers me is where we are falling down- lack of sacks, lack of pressure on the qb.
Also total yards is an important stat. We have benefited by teams making mistakes on our end of the field, a great example is the PSU fumble.
I’d also say VT last year is better than PSU this year, especially in the dome, FIU last year is equal to or better than Duke, and NTex is equal to or better than SJS. I think we had played a slightly harder schedule through 3 games last year.
Nevertheless, insipite of what my eyes tell me- that we are missing tackles and leaving guys wide open, your stats seem to show we are almost as good as we were. If we hold Arky to 7 this year I’ll buy into your supposition.
As much as I hate Auburn I hate Tenn. that much more.
If we hold Arky to 7
I am getting hotel reservations for Glendale this weekend
"You know, we had a lot of fun tonight. But there's nothing funny about vapor lock! It's the third most common cause of cars stalling. So please, take care of your car and get it checked!" -Joe Namath
by billycthulhu on Sep 23, 2010 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions
That is, this weekend I will make reservations
Not that I would go to Glendale this weekend.
"You know, we had a lot of fun tonight. But there's nothing funny about vapor lock! It's the third most common cause of cars stalling. So please, take care of your car and get it checked!" -Joe Namath
by billycthulhu on Sep 23, 2010 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh, I thought you were going to go scout the place out for us.
No? Selfish prick.
If I'm wearing a turban, it means Auburn is playing Iraq.
If we hold Arky to 7 this year I’ll buy into your supposition.
Arky is, or is supposed to be, much better than they were last year. So it’s not quite an even exchange.
I’m sure your stats are correct.
2010 stats and 2009 stats.
I would say what bothers me is where we are falling down- lack of sacks, lack of pressure on the qb.
Just because we’re not getting sacks doesn’t mean we’re not getting pressure. At least three of our INTs are from near sack where we pressured the QB. Would you rather have had those sacks than INTs? Also, we’re forcing QBs into bad passes—as evidenced by thh much lower completion percentage.
I’d also say VT last year is better than PSU this year, especially in the dome, FIU last year is equal to or better than Duke, and NTex is equal to or better than SJS. I think we had played a slightly harder schedule through 3 games last year.
I can’t really find any real rankings for last year’s teams but I did find EA NCAA 2010 and 2011Team Rankings. I don’t really doubt that your assessment of the teams is superior to the fine folks at EA but this kinda is what they do for a living and generally they’re pretty god at it.
It looks like last year we had: VT—B+ overall, B+ off., and B+ Def.; FIU—D, C, D; and NT—D, D+, D+ for a “GPA” of 1.96.
This year we have: SJSU—D, D, D+; PSU—A-, A, B+; and Duke—C+, B-, C+ for a GPA of 2.41 (assuming my math is correct).
At least EA seems to think that our schedule through 3 games was slightly tougher. Now we did have to play VT in a neutral site and we got PSU at BDS but I doubt that makes almost half of a grade difference. And they think PSU > VT, Duke > FIU, and NT ever so slightly > SJSU.
People can come up with statistics to prove anything. 14% of people know that.
Roll Bama Roll - The Champagne of Bama Blogs.
Yeah and half of all statistics are made up on the spot.
85% of statisticians will tell you that.
If I'm wearing a turban, it means Auburn is playing Iraq.
Yeah, my left arm and right foot (about 14% of my body) knows that but I type with my right hand which is incredibly stupid.
one important thing left out that skews the stats....
and that is our offense from 2009 and 2010. Last year we had a serviceable offense that gradually improved to be the unstoppable beast seen during the last couple of games (playoffs). However earlier in the season, we were not as dominant which meant that the defense was on the field more often. This years offense pretty much drives and scores on every possession, holding on to the football for large swaths of time. This means that the defense would be spending much less time on the field if they could actually make a stop on 3rd down.
So I don’t think that you can adequately compare the two defenses on just defensive stats alone.
by SI Reasoning on Sep 24, 2010 4:12 AM CDT up reply actions
The other side of that is that we’ve had our backups in more often than we did last year so our reserves are giving up more yardage.
And, I am not comparing this year’s defense to last year’s defense to say that they’re as good as last years (though that is how I worded it). What I am trying to say is that we all know that last year’s defense was one of the best ever. If this defense is even remotely as dominant as last year’s we’ll be ok. This defense, while having room to improve, is far from worrisome.
We have also had several quick strike scores, putting the defense back onto the field faster than last year. I’m not sure how time of possession stacks up overall right now, but there have certainly been critical streaks in the first half of the first three games where the offense has gone nuts on drives, and thus time of possession is not very high. On the other hand, I suspect a defense playing with a lead is a bit less pressured. (Well, as “less pressured” as one can be playing up to Saban’s standards.)
by Steven Mitchell on Sep 24, 2010 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions
3 games do not supply enough stats to compare to a team that
won 14 and a National Title.
Lets wait till this team accomplishes something before we start comparing.
Alabama football....The only addiction God wholeheartedly approves of..
I agree to an extent. But, then again, maybe we shouldn’t be all chicken little because we give up a few yards on the ground and haven’t gotten many sacks.
I didn't say you were wrong...
this i agree with
I guess what I mean to say is, that I am not as worried about this year’s defense as some others seem to be. Especially when we consider that #57 had to sit for 2 games, we haven’t really seen many blitzes yet (pretty vanilla thus far), and Jerrell Harris saying that
they’ve been holding back
But im just one to wait to compare this team to that team. I can say this already, watching Bama play this year, its like watching a completely new team. Offensive sets look similar but completely different at the same time. The defense also seems to be playing a different style. I know there are a ton of new faces but watching them play, it just seems different.
I for one have been arguing with many others that the defense doesn’t look as bad as some are saying. Am I concerned about certain aspects of their game? Yep. I certainly don’t have my head in the sand. But am i going to nit pick them to death, considering we’ve barely seen them at full strength yet? Nope…
This Arky game is going to tell us exactly what our team is made of. If we win big (+17 points), we know we have a special season ahead of us. If we squeak by, it could still be a special season but with a less than happy ending. If we lose, then all bets are off.
Alabama football....The only addiction God wholeheartedly approves of..
A few more yards on the ground?
I think this qualifies as more than a few. I can understand wanting to make stats work for your point, but to say they’re only giving up a few more yards on the ground is a bit disingenuous no?
We gave up 126 yards on the ground (including 1 yard against Florida International). However this year we’re giving up nearly 131 yards a game on the ground. Last year our opponents only average 1.5 yards per carry compared to 3.8 yards per carry this year.
Of course I miss Rolo ....and no one can compare to his skill set...but we have been productive in his replacment ....
however…..FWIW ……I think the ONLY DIFFERENCE between 09 D and 10 D is one thing ………————Mount Cody is missing———-……he was the reason we stuffed the run so much…the rest of the D stats are about identical………we knew that we were going to have a drop off with him gone but some want to crucify the entire d as this liability or think that the sky is falling…..when in reality we are right where we thought wed be…..also wait until Jesse Williams steps in next year from DAY 1 and we have the Mother fluking run stopping D back !!!!!!..
"I mean, the stuff I do out there in practice is amazing," he said. "I shock myself sometimes."-Julio Jones
by The Voice of Reason on Sep 24, 2010 12:49 PM CDT reply actions
on any given Saturday
any team can defy all the stats and bust you in the mouth. If this team goes out and executes their assigments all will be well. I myself think that we havent seen what this defense can do. Saban doesnt seem to be worried about it…..not from what I have seen. In 2008 our defense looked good all season but got very embarrassed by the Utes….that absolutely was worse than getting beat by Florida. I hope I never see anything like it again.
I hate to come back
after we gave up 400 yds. to Arky, but do we want to continue believing that our D this year is close to last year’s D?
I knew our 2010 D was not what the 2009 D was before the Arky game, but now we do know we are very much a vulnerable D.
As much as I hate Auburn I hate Tenn. that much more.
Again, I said that this defense has problems but that it does a good job forcing turnovers and hold teams out of the end zone. That is what this team did yesterday. Even though we are giving way more yardage, we have only given on 1 more point on defense than we did through 4 games but that’s 3 TDs and 6 FGs this year compared to 5 TDs and 1 FG last year. Though we are still behind in sacks, we have forced 5 more turnovers than we did through 4 games last year.
I know that it sounded a lot like I was saying this defense was close to last years defense but that wasn’t really my point. My point was that we were doing a better job of keeping our opponents from scoring. Now we are about even but we’re still making them settle for field goals instead of touchdowns more often than we did last year. Also, I think it’s quite impressive that we have only given up one more point on defense when we consider that our first three opponents this year are about even with our opponents last year (if not slightly better) and Arky is WAY better than they were last year (also they were at home this year).
Again, the game is scored in points not yards. Yes we have plenty to improve on but we are still one of the best scoring defenses in the country and we are getting way more turnovers than we did last year.
Apologies
Yes we have plenty to improve on but we are still one of the best scoring defenses in the country
I kinda misstated that last stat. We are not one of the best scoring defense in the country, we are the best scoring defense in the country.
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